Andrew nembagh



(No Model.)

A. NEMBAGH, Jr. PUZZLE.

No. 493,941. Patented Mar; 2l, 1893.

n fnvennr: 5J@ Sle/J mw@% J @9%. ZKM f' Ntra@ STATES ANDREIV NEMBACH, JR., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'llO JAMES M. FRENCH AND CHARLES F. STEVART, OF SAME PLACE.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 49 3,941, dated March 21, 1893. Application nled December 17, 1892. Serial No. 455,468. (No model.)

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW NEMBACHJL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Ilamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of my invention and its advantages will be evident from the subjoined description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification, and to which reference isV hereby made,-Figure l is a view in perspective of the puzzle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of a ball constituting a part of said puzzle, the scale on which the ball is shown being larger than that shown in Fig. l.

A indicates a box. This box may be, in plan view, either circular or composed of sides meeting at an angle. Its preferred shape is rectangular, having sides S. The box has a bottom B, whose upper or inner side is smooth. In order to prevent the ball being lost, and that it may always be present in the box, the latter has a top I, and this should be of glass in order that the movements of the ball upon the door or bottom B may be observed without removing the top. The top is secured in place in the box. The central portion of the floor B has a ring R marked thereon, and within this ring a dot or small bulls eye D.

M is a ball of wood or other material, light in weight as compared to iron. This ball is eccentrically loaded, or may be made of two kinds of wood, of diiferent density, as follows: In one side of the ball, a recess M is made, and into the latter a piece M2 of metal is dropped, and the recessie then sealedA over, so that the surface of the ball is everywhere a true sphere. The outer surface of the metal may be flush with the surface of the ball and constitute a part of the surface of the sphere, but I prefer that the metal shall not extend as near to the surface as this, for the reason, that when constructed as last named, the ball when rolled is more uncertain in its movements, and it is more difficult to make it stop at a desired point. The ball is located on the door B.

In practice, the operator takes the box in his hand, and elevates one part of the floor, and then another part, and so on, so as to cause the ball to roll toward the center and into the ring R, and upon the dot D. This operation or feat would appear easy of accomplishment, but with the loaded ball M, it is in fact, exceedingly difficult to do. One reason for this lies in thefact, that the operator does not remember, and cannotkeep in mind the side of the ball which is loaded, and unless he can work the puzzle so that the loaded side of the ball shall as it rotates come onto the dot, and can be stopped from rollingy on farther, he cannot accomplish the require-v ments of the puzzle. The device causes much surprise, as most individuals believe, until they operate it, that the obi] ect named is easily attained. The device causes much amusement to those looking on and watching the operator, and the efforts (which usually appear awkward) that he unsuccessfully makes to accomplish his obj ect.

The device may be considered to impersonate various things. For example on the floor may be delineated a rope P, as shown, and held out in place by four posts T, one at each corner of the space apparently inclosed by the rope. The central ring R maybe considered the prize ring, and the ball be denominated the defeated prize fighter, John Sullivan,the humor of the impersonation consisting in the fact that it is difficult to get said Sullivan into the ring, and he readily returns to the ropes. Other and better impersonations may be employed, especially for children, at the suggestion of the manufacturer.

The puzzle may be used as the foundation of a competitive game, whose main features are as follows :-The ring R may be designated by a given value, and thedot or center goal by a higher value, for example the ring R may count five points and the dot ten points. Two or more players compete. Each in turn is allowed a given period, in which to manipulate the puzzle, or each player may have one of these puzzles, and both manipulate it at the same time. When the game is finished,

the player having the highest number of points has won the game.

When desired, two or more loaded ballsY may be used on the floor.

The boX A is preferably of pasteboard, and the glass held in place by resting on the sides S, and paper coming from the outer surface of the sides and lapped over the edges of the glass and pasted thereto. But the box may be made of other material, as wood, &c.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The box A having a central mark delineated on its floor and a ball eccentrically loaded, and traveling on said floor, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The box A, having on its floor a ring R, marked thereon,and the ball loaded eccentrically and traveling thereon, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. A central ring R, and a dot D therein, marked on a smooth floor,having a surrounding edge guard S, and eccentrically loaded ball, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. A box having a floor surrounded With a guard, and glass top, separated from said Hoor, and an eccentrically loaded ball,travel ing on said floor below said glass, and a designated mark on said lioor, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The ball M having recess M', and metal M2 inserted therein,and a substance inserted in the recess between the metal and the theoretical surface of the ball and so as to complete the spherical surface of the latter, and a floor adapted to carry said ball and having a designated mark or goal for the ball, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The box A having delineated on its floor a principal goal and a secondary one, being of different competitive Values, and the eccentrically loaded ball, located on said Hoor, for use in a competitive game, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

. ANDREW NEMBACH, Jn.

Attest:

A. L. HERRLINGER, K. SMITH. 

